Environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discussions, and basking in 20oC sunshine in the UK in October is enough to terrify anyone. Many employers are working on reducing their carbon footprint, but how can freelancers do their bit?
Adopting eco-friendly practices and being more environmentally conscious will not only help to tackle sustainability, but could enhance personal productivity, too.
Note: Much of the carbon footprint of an electronic item is in its production, so replacing an old car/laptop/washing machine before the end of its lifespan is likely to add to your carbon footprint. Buying something new and more energy-efficient is often only beneficial if it replaces something that no longer functions.
1 Choose energy efficient communication
Many freelancers work remotely from home with little or no carbon emissions from commuting. However, changing the way we communicate could help us cut our digital carbon footprint when you consider that:
- A text generates 0.014g of CO2 emissions (CO2e)
- An email generates 0.3g CO2e – more if you add an image or attachment
- A one hour video conference call produces 157.3g CO2e
Interestingly, a call with the video function turned off generates just 6.2g CO2e. Across a week, turning your camera off during most meetings could significantly cut down on your footprint.
Sending fewer unnecessary emails, copying fewer people into emails, and sending links to documents rather than attaching them can all help to reduce the carbon load of emails.
2 Make your workspace greener
Cutting back on energy use and consumption can help you work more sustainably. Consider:
- Working in rooms with good natural light to reduce artificial lighting, and use LED bulbs when necessary
- Programming the thermostat for comfortable temperatures at home
- Choosing energy efficient laptops, monitors and peripherals – buy secondhand where possible and recycle old items
- Cutting back on paper use – avoid printing, use digital notebooks, add a digital signature, share documents electronically and replace post-its with digital planning tools like Trello or Miro
- Recycling at home and in shared office spaces
3 Travel sustainably
If you work from home, commuting may be an infrequent event. Consider whether in-person meetings with clients or collaborators can be conducted via audio or video call.
When you travel, decide whether you can walk, cycle, take public transport or lift share. If you are considering getting a new car, look into electric options.
4 Use secondhand furniture
Furnishing your home office with pre-loved furniture will cut both the financial and environmental cost. Search charity shops, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and other online selling sites.
If you have furniture you no longer need, be sure to sell or donate it to avoid it going to waste.
5 Work out your carbon footprint
It’s easy to underestimate the impact of your business on the environment. WWF, Pawprint and Earthly all have tools to help you calculate your carbon footprint based on your work activities and lifestyle habits including diet and travel. From this, you’ll be given advice to help you reduce your emissions.
6 Write a sustainability policy
Maybe it will only be you who ever reads it, but making a statement can help you make adjustments to the way you work and may even help you find new clients. Start small and keep adding to it; making sustainable changes is a process for us all but every small step will help.
To find out more about me, my business or my steps towards becoming a more sustainable business, get in touch today.